'It fills me with confidence' - Pidcock stays in Vuelta podium hunt

Tom Pidcock remains in fourth place in the general classification, 58 seconds off race leader, Jonas Vingegaard and Pidcock is in fine spirits after some strong showings in the mountains. 

"I feel super good," Pidcock told reporters. "After a performance like I did before the rest day on Sunday, it fills me with confidence. Today I felt good, so the more that happens, the better I feel."

The British rider acknowledged the challenging nature of the stage, describing a rapid start that eventually led to a demanding final climb which was the El Ferial Larra Belagua, 9.4km at 6.1%.

"The start was super fast, but it's not really that hard on the wheels. A lot of tired bodies inside of the peloton," Pidcock explained. "I knew that the climb was going to be pretty tough, but it went a lot faster than yesterday's plan, so it was not too bad in the end."

On stage 9, João Almeida had told Pidcock to 'grow some balls' after failing to collaborate fully on the final climb, but the Briton revealed he had received an apology for comments that were made in the heat of competition.

"He said sorry for his words, but I don't take anything to heart. It's in the heat of the moment. I've also said stuff to people before, so I have no hard feelings," Pidcock said.

The Q36.5 rider also highlighted his improved preparation for the Vuelta compared to his Giro d'Italia appearance earlier this season where it didn't quite particularly live up to expectations with the Briton placing 16th in the general classification. 

"We kind of knew that the Giro was a probability, but I didn't want to sacrifice my classics and Ardennes programme. The Giro was too much. I was not fresh, not ready," he explained. "But this is different."

Stage 11 around Bilbao looks tailor made for Pidcock, featuring short and sharp steep climbs as well as some tricky and technical descents, which featured in the Grand Départ of the 2023 Tour de France. "I looked at it a bit," he said. "I don't know it fully, but it's going to be a hard one, that's for sure."